Frequentlyasked Questions

Traditional podcast advertising is CPM-based, show-based, and often host-read, which means advertisers pay upfront for impressions and hope the campaign performs. Audiohook removes that upfront media risk, operating on a true CPA model. We fund and run the media ourselves, optimize the campaign in real time, and bill only on conversions we can confidently attribute to audio.

Audiohook requires a 30-day minimum commitment and a minimum monthly spend cap of $10,000 for Audiohook-managed campaigns. That cap is not a guaranteed spend. It is the minimum runway the system needs to optimize effectively. If Audiohook only drives $5,000 worth of validated conversions in a month, only $5,000 is billed. Our goal for a successful campaign is to optimize spend successfully to reach the spend cap each month. We're working toward launching self-serve capabilities in the future to better accommodate smaller campaign budgets.

Yes. Campaigns run on a flat-rate CPA, not a target CPA and not a percentage-based rev share. The brand chooses the fixed dollar amount it is willing to pay per conversion, and that amount can be adjusted during the campaign as performance data comes in.

The best starting point is usually where Meta and Google CPAs are backing out, combined with what makes sense based on the brand's AOV, LTV, and margin structure.

Audiohook works across most advertiser verticals (D2C, B2B, subscription brands), but the best-fit brands reflect the following requirements: the conversion event is trackable and meaningful (purchase, lead form fill, subscription start); the advertiser has enough baseline volume to support optimization learning, typically 3,000 to 5,000 monthly conversions and at least 100,000 page views; the advertiser is open to measurement that reflects a clickless channel rather than demanding last-click attribution as the only source of truth; and the advertiser has a clear definition of success and can act on the learnings, including creative iteration, CPA adjustments, and geo strategy. As a rule of thumb, stronger fits tend to have meaningful site traffic and conversion volume across channels, but rapidly scaling brands can still work if they have credible growth and sufficient runway.

Audiohook operates on an application-based partnership model rather than developing traditional proposals. When a brand is ready to move forward with a campaign, the only step is to fill out our Audiohook Advertiser Application, which provides the information needed to evaluate fit and guide campaign setup. Once approved, we move directly to IO execution, align on tracking and creative, and proceed to launch, typically within 7 to 10 business days.

Targeting is fully algorithmic and dynamically inserted at the user level, then optimized in real time. Rather than selecting a short list of shows, Audiohook transcribes episodes in real time and uses contextual and sentiment analysis to determine where ads are most likely to resonate. Two listeners on the same show can hear different ads based on relevance and intent signals.

Audiohook is not designed around manually picking a small set of shows. We target the listeners themselves. The system optimizes across the full audio ecosystem to find the best conversion opportunities. That said, advertisers do receive visibility into top-performing podcasts and networks in reporting, and those insights can help shape future strategy.

Audiohook is primarily built on programmatic pre-recorded ads, but we do offer host-read opportunities as well in limited form and on a case-by-case basis.

Yes. We can apply brand safety guardrails where needed and work within a brand's safety guidelines to ensure ads are not played within podcasts a brand would deem unsafe. The goal is to preserve enough scale for optimization while ensuring the brand is comfortable with where ads may appear.

Yes. We can support customer suppression and exclusion lists. Attributed conversions and impressions can also be dropped into a Google Cloud or AWS bucket in CSV format so brands can use them for additional analysis and reporting.

Audiohook's in-house production team handles scriptwriting, voice selection, recording, and editing at no additional cost. The brand can provide talking points, examples, or messaging priorities.

No. We do not allow promo codes or vanity URLs. Brands may reference existing on-site promotions (e.g., “Save 20% sitewide Memorial Day Weekend”), but these are not used for tracking, billing, or attribution, as our model is fully clickless.

Tracking usually involves a server-to-server integration or a lightweight JavaScript tracking tag. Once technical contacts align, setup is typically straightforward and fast.

Today, direct server-to-server or direct site tracking is usually the quickest and simplest route. We are also working with many of the affiliate tracking platforms to integrate our tracking within the platform itself, and can discuss this on an individual basis with an advertiser to see if we have a solution within the network they are currently using. Billing depends on the advertiser's setup and preferences. Some brands prefer direct tracking with billing still coordinated through the affiliate ecosystem, while others may choose a more direct operational structure. The cleanest approach is usually determined in their Application responses.

Our model evaluates conversions based on when they occur relative to ad exposure rather than relying on a rigid cutoff. For products with shorter consideration cycles, conversions tend to happen quickly, and the model reflects that. As more time passes, the likelihood that Audiohook influenced the conversion drops off significantly, and the system correspondingly stops crediting. Campaign lookback windows vary based on your average time-to-conversion.

Our attribution model is built to account for overlap across the broader media mix. It evaluates where audio sat in the path to conversion and only credits conversions that would not have occurred without the campaign's influence.

Because of how Audiohook's platform is designed, we are unable to support disputed or reversed conversions. Our system directly invests media dollars to drive performance and continuously learns from the conversion data it receives, using those signals to optimize future spend in real time. If conversions are later removed or altered, it disrupts the integrity of that data, reducing the system's confidence and causing it to become more conservative in spending, which will ultimately impact performance. To avoid this, our model is built to identify and bill only the highest confidence, validated conversions upfront, rather than over-claiming and adjusting later. This approach maintains data consistency, minimizes double counting, and ensures a more reliable and stable foundation for performance optimization.

Advertisers get real-time dashboard access that includes attributed conversions, top podcasts, conversion trends, revenue trends, and additional deeper analysis and exports depending on the brand's needs. When integrated through an affiliate platform, advertisers also gain access to in-program transaction data, enabling seamless inclusion of Audiohook performance in overall affiliate channel reporting.

Yes. We can fund and run incrementality tests through our third-party partner, or work with the advertiser's preferred incrementality tester. Incrementality testing is used as an added layer of validation to support our attribution model and will be prioritized as determined by Audiohook.